$27.8M budget goes to Assembly next week

The county commissioners will present a $27.8 million 2014 spending plan to the Assembly of Delegates Feb. 20.

Patriot Staff

The county commissioners will present a $27.8 million 2014 spending plan to the Assembly of Delegates Feb. 20.

The commissioners finished their discussion on the budget this week, approving a plan that shows an increase of 18.26 percent over last year. Much of the increase is the result of a planned bond issue of $2.3 million for capital requests. Absent the bond request, the budget is up a little over 8 percent.

The commissioners spent the past two meetings adjusting revenue projections, mostly up, and whittling requests to cover a $1 million gap between requests and available funds. There was about $63,000 left to cover, which county administrator and finance director Mark Zielinski believed he would be able to accommodate within the final budget document.

The budget reflects a division of duties of the county administrator and finance director into two positions. Zielinski will become the full-time finance director, and a new county administrator will be sought.

Key parts of the county’s capital request include a second county dredge, and information systems infrastructure.

The budget also contains roughly $1 million in new spending for the creation of a strategic information office through the Cape Cod Commission and also the start of the Regional Umbrella Services System, which will develop a platform for shared applications to be offered through the county.

The commissioners have asked that the budget transmittal letter include a greater discussion of its approach. It is the first move toward a formal budget policy to guide the commissioners in future budgeting.

The Assembly typically takes the first stab at reviewing the budget proposals through its standing committees, breaking out different areas of review.